Overview

Pain is a significant public health problem, affecting more than 100 million adults in the US and causing significant reductions in patient quality of life. The use of narcotic medications for pain management has increased dramatically in the US over the past two decades. However, pain patients are often undertreated due to a variety of physician- and patient-related concerns and barriers.

Despite the pain-relieving properties of opioids, the potential for misuse, abuse, and addiction remains a concern. In response to these apprehensions, the FDA developed the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) to ensure the benefits outweigh the risks with opioid treatments. The FDA also developed the Blueprint for Prescriber Education (FDA Blueprint) in July 2012. The FDA Blueprint was recently updated to include more information on pain management, such as components of an effective treatment plan, nonpharmacologic treatments for pain, pharmacological treatments for pain (nonopioid and opioid analgesics), and a primer on addiction medicine.

This 2-part activity, Developing an Effective Treatment Plan: Opioid- and Nonopioid-based Treatment Options for Acute and Chronic Pain Management, incorporates the updated FDA Blueprint into education designed to translate improved clinician knowledge and confidence into enhanced care and improved quality of life for patients with acute and chronic pain.

Learning Objectives

Describe components of an effective treatment plan, such as treatment goals, patient interactions, and collaboration with the healthcare team

Compare and contrast the individualized benefits and risks to initiating non-medication therapies before considering long-term medication

Identify patients who are candidates for treatment with nonopioid analgesics

The Potomac Center for Medical Education designates this live activity for a maximum of 4.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ABIM MOC: Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 4.50 Medical Knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.